Year-End Lists

Bob Boilen: Favorite Music of 2022, as posted by NPR

[see also 2023 • 2021 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2011]

1. I Don't Know Who Needs To Hear This...
   Tomberlin
2. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
   Big Thief
3. Wet Leg
   Wet Leg
4. Florist
   Florist
5. People In Cars
   Curse Of Lono
6. Home, Before and After
   Regina Spektor
7. 19 Masters
   Saya Gray
8. Five Seconds Flat
   Lizzy McAlpine
9. Warm Chris
   Aldous Harding
10. This Is A Photograph
    Kevin Morby
11. Fruit
    The A's
12. Cruel Country
    Wilco
13. Everything Was Beautiful
    Spiritualized
14. Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky
    Porridge Radio
15. Pre Pleasure
    Julia Jacklin
16. caroline
    caroline
17. Narrow Line
    Mama's Broke
18. The Spur
    Joan Shelley
19. Angel in Realtime
    Gang of Youths
20. El Bueno Y El Malo
    Hermanos Gutiérrez

This list contributes to:

• NPR Music: Best Albums of 2022

Sheldon Pearce: Top 20 Albums of 2022, as posted by NPR

[see also 2020]

• Caprisongs
  FKA twigs
• Motomami
  Rosalía
• Reason to Smile
  Kojey Radical
• Meeting with a Judas Tree
  Duval Timothy
• Preacher's Daughter
  Ethel Cain
• Renaissance
  Beyoncé
• The Elephant Man’s Bones
  Roc Marciano and The Alchemist
• ¡Ay!
  Lucrecia Dalt
• a tape called component system with the auto reverse
  Open Mike Eagle
• In These Times
  Makaya McCraven
• Gifted
  Koffee
• DEATHFAME
  Quelle Chris
• Evergreen
  Caroline Shaw / Attacca Quartet
• The 7th Hand
  Immanuel Wilkins
• Not Tight
  Domi and JD Beck
• I Don't Give a Fuck About This Rap Shit, Imma Just Drop Until I Don't Feel Like It Anymore
  $ilkmoney
• Two Ribbons
  Let’s Eat Grandma
• Three Dimensions Deep
  Amber Mark
• Sick!
  Earl Sweatshirt
• Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
  Big Thief

The Next 10

• EA Monster
  Young Nudy
• Painless
  Nilüfer Yanya
• Sometimes, Forever
  Soccer Mommy
• Nymph
  Shygirl
• Blue Rev
  Alvvays
• Natural Brown Prom Queen
  Sudan Archives
• Warm Chris
  Aldous Harding
• Bad Mode
  Hikaru Utada
• Blue Water Road
  Kehlani
• Aethiopes
  Billy Woods

This list contributes to:

• NPR Music: Best Albums of 2022

NME: The 50 Best Albums of 2022

[see also 2023 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. The Car
   Arctic Monkeys
2. Wet Leg
   Wet Leg
3. Renaissance
   Beyoncé
4. Skinty Fia
   Fontaines D.C.
5. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
   Kendrick Lamar
6. Hold the Girl
   Rina Sawayama
7. Topical Dancer
   Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul
8. Supernova
   Nova Twins
9. Motomami
   Rosalía
10. Being Funny in a Foreign Language
    The 1975
11. Ants From Up There
    Black Country, New Road
12. Midnights
    Taylor Swift
13. Crash
    Charli XCX
14. I Love You Jennifer B
    Jockstrap
15. The Overload
    Yard Act
16. Harry's House
    Harry Styles
17. It's Almost Dry
    Pusha T
18. Tilt
    Confidence Man
19. More Love, Less Ego
    Wizkid
20. Life Is Yours
    Foals
21. Laurel Hell
    Mitski
22. Melt My Eyez See Your Future
    Denzel Curry
23. Cool It Down
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs
24. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
    Big Thief
25. Stumpwork
    Dry Cleaning
26. Hugo
    Loyle Carner
27. Gemini Rights
    Steve Lacy
28. Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022)
    Fred again..
29. Chloë and the Next 20th Century
    Father John Misty
30. Blue Rev
    Alvvays
31. Dawn FM
    The Weeknd
32. This Is A Photograph
    Kevin Morby
33. God Save the Animals
    Alex G
34. Cheat Codes
    Danger Mouse and Black Thought
35. Reason to Smile
    Kojey Radical
36. Special
    Lizzo
37. And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow
    Weyes Blood
38. A Light for Attracting Attention
    The Smile
39. Farm to Table
    Bartees Strange
40. Radiate Like This
    Warpaint
41. Unlimited Love
    Red Hot Chili Peppers
42. Jack in the Box
    J-Hope
43. caroline
    caroline
44. Hideous Bastard
    Oliver Sim
45. Cub
    Wunderhorse
46. Fossora
    Björk
47. Traumazine
    Megan Thee Stallion
48. Blue Water Road
    Kehlani
49. C'mon You Know
    Liam Gallagher
50. Heart Under
    Just Mustard

Carl Wilson: The Best Albums of 2022, as published by Slate, alphabetical by artist

[see also 2023 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013]

• Being Funny in a Foreign Language
  The 1975
• Bhakti
  Zoh Amba
• Expert in a Dying Field
  The Beths
• If My Wife New I'd Be Dead
  CMAT
• Amaryllis
  Mary Halvorson
• Belladonna
  Mary Halvorson
• I Love You Jennifer B
  Jockstrap
• Gemini Rights
  Steve Lacy
• A Beautiful Time
  Willie Nelson
• Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky
  Porridge Radio
• Ghost Song
  Cécile McLorin Salvant
• Endure
  Special Interest
• Natural Brown Prom Queen
  Sudan Archives

Plus …

• Renaissance
  Beyoncé
• Say Laura
  Eric Chenaux
• Gold
  Alabaster DePlume
• Stumpwork
  Dry Cleaning
• Flaming Swords
  Fievel Is Glauque
• Warm Chris
  Aldous Harding
• Beach Practice
  Veda Hille
• The Forever Story
  JID
• Palomino
  Miranda Lambert
• Pompeii
  Cate Le Bon
• Trio: Chapel
  Charles Lloyd
• Trio: Ocean
  Charles Lloyd
• Trios: Sacred Thread
  Charles Lloyd
• Balens Cho (Hot Candles)
  Mach-Hommy
• I Walked With You A Ways
  Plains
• Motomami
  Rosalía
• CAZIMI
  Caitlin Rose
• From Capelton Hill
  Stars
• Dawn FM
  The Weeknd
• Wet Leg
  Wet Leg
• Cruel Country
  Wilco

The Skinny: Top Ten Albums of 2022

[see also 2023 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015]

1. Renaissance
   Beyoncé
2. Wet Leg
   Wet Leg
3. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
   Kendrick Lamar
4. Motomami
   Rosalía
5. God Save the Animals
   Alex G
6. Crash
   Charli XCX
7. I Love You Jennifer B
   Jockstrap
8. Topical Dancer
   Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul
9. Muna
   Muna
10. Fossora
    Björk

Ten Records That Just Missed Out

11. Caprisongs
    FKA twigs
11. Midnights
    Taylor Swift
13. The Line Is A Curve
    Kae Tempest
14. Ants From Up There
    Black Country, New Road
15. Skinty Fia
    Fontaines D.C.
16. The Overload
    Yard Act
17. Bad Mode
    Hikaru Utada
17. A Light for Attracting Attention
    The Smile
19. Painless
    Nilüfer Yanya
20. Dawn FM
    The Weeknd

Entertainment Weekly: The 10 Best Albums of 2022

[see also 2023 • 2021 • 2020 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2011]

1. Renaissance
   Beyoncé
2. Motomami
   Rosalía
3. Caprisongs
   FKA twigs
4. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
   Big Thief
5. Big Time
   Angel Olsen
6. I Walked With You A Ways
   Plains
7. Skinty Fia
   Fontaines D.C.
8. It's Almost Dry
   Pusha T
9. Wet Leg
   Wet Leg
10. Being Funny in a Foreign Language
    The 1975

Slant Magazine: The 50 Best Albums of 2022

[see also 2023 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
   Big Thief
2. Renaissance
   Beyoncé
3. Blue Rev
   Alvvays
4. Caprisongs
   FKA twigs
5. Once Twice Melody
   Beach House
6. Motomami
   Rosalía
7. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
   Kendrick Lamar
8. Big Time
   Angel Olsen
9. Bad Mode
   Hikaru Utada
10. Ants From Up There
    Black Country, New Road
11. Painless
    Nilüfer Yanya
12. Life on Earth
    Hurray for the Riff Raff
13. Topical Dancer
    Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul
14. It's Almost Dry
    Pusha T
15. Chloë and the Next 20th Century
    Father John Misty
16. Dawn FM
    The Weeknd
17. Wet Leg
    Wet Leg
18. Midnights
    Taylor Swift
19. Cherry
    Daphni
20. Preacher's Daughter
    Ethel Cain
21. God Save the Animals
    Alex G
22. Expert in a Dying Field
    The Beths
23. Cool It Down
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs
24. Crash
    Charli XCX
25. Laurel Hell
    Mitski
26. Crest
    Bladee and Ecco2K
27. I Love You Jennifer B
    Jockstrap
28. Mata
    M.I.A.
29. Honestly, Nevermind
    Drake
30. Lyfë
    Yeat
31. Stumpwork
    Dry Cleaning
32. Antidawn
    Burial
33. De todas las flores
    Natalia Lafourcade
34. Asphalt Meadows
    Death Cab for Cutie
35. Natural Brown Prom Queen
    Sudan Archives
36. Warm Chris
    Aldous Harding
37. Being Funny in a Foreign Language
    The 1975
38. Fossora
    Björk
39. Arkhon
    Zola Jesus
40. A Beautiful Time
    Willie Nelson
41. Age/Sex/Location
    Ari Lennox
42. Sick!
    Earl Sweatshirt
43. Premonition
    White Lung
44. World Record
    Neil Young with Crazy horse
45. Hellfire
    black midi
46. Old-Time Folks
    Lee Bains + The Glory Fires
47. And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow
    Weyes Blood
48. Pompeii
    Cate Le Bon
49. Un Verano Sin Ti
    Bad Bunny
50. Classic Objects
    Jenny Hval

Craig Jenkins: The Best Albums of 2022, as published by New York Magazine’s Vulture

[see also 2023 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016]

1. Renaissance
   Beyoncé
2. Ramona Park Broke My Heart
   Vince Staples
3. Un Verano Sin Ti
   Bad Bunny
4. A Light for Attracting Attention
   The Smile
5. Diaspora Problems
   Soul Glo
6. Gemini Rights
   Steve Lacy
7. Age/Sex/Location
   Ari Lennox
8. Painless
   Nilüfer Yanya
9. Natural Brown Prom Queen
   Sudan Archives
10. Immutable
    Meshuggah

Honorable Mention

• Dawn FM
  The Weeknd
• Caprisongs
  FKA twigs
• Sick!
  Earl Sweatshirt
• Few Good Things
  Saba
• Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
  Big Thief
• Once Twice Melody
  Beach House
• Timewave Zero
  Blood Incantation
• This World Is Going To Ruin You
  Vein.fm
• Crash
  Charli XCX
• Motomami
  Rosalía
• Gifted
  Koffee
• Aethiopes
  Billy Woods
• Church
  Billy Woods
• learn 2 swim
  redveil
• It's Almost Dry
  Pusha T
• Palomino
  Miranda Lambert
• Mahal
  Toro y Moi
• Some Nights I Dream of Doors
  Obongjayar
• DEATHFAME
  Quelle Chris
• Hypnos
  Ravyn Lenae
• Forest in the City
  Umi
• Big Time
  Angel Olsen
• Sometimes, Forever
  Soccer Mommy
• You Still Here, Ho?
  Flo Milli
• God's Country
  Chat Pile
• Bleed Out
  The Mountain Goats
• The Elephant Man’s Bones
  Roc Marciano and The Alchemist
• Soul Sold Separately
  Freddie Gibbs
• The Will to Live
  Titus Andronicus
• Fossora
  Björk
• Into the Blue
  Broken Bells
• a tape called component system with the auto reverse
  Open Mike Eagle
• Laughing so Hard, it Hurts
  Mavi
• Midnights
  Taylor Swift
• 5 to the Eye with Stars
  R.A.P. Ferreira
• And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow
  Weyes Blood

Nate Chinen: Favorite Music of 2022, as posted by NPR

[see also 2017 • 2011]

• The 7th Hand
  Immanuel Wilkins
• Amaryllis
  Mary Halvorson
• Belladonna
  Mary Halvorson
• Motomami
  Rosalía
• The Off-Off Broadway Guide to Synergism
  Tyshawn Sorey
• In These Times
  Makaya McCraven
• Cheat Codes
  Danger Mouse and Black Thought
• Nuna
  David Virelles
• More Touch
  Patricia Brennan
• View with a Room
  Julian Lage
• Evergreen
  Caroline Shaw / Attacca Quartet
• New Standards Vol. 1
  Terri Lyne Carrington

This list contributes to:

• NPR Music: Best Albums of 2022

Consequence: Top 50 Albums of 2022

[see also 2023 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. It's Almost Dry
   Pusha T
2. Un Verano Sin Ti
   Bad Bunny
3. Renaissance
   Beyoncé
4. Cool It Down
   Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5. American Heartbreak
   Zach Bryan
6. Diaspora Problems
   Soul Glo
7. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
   Big Thief
8. Natural Brown Prom Queen
   Sudan Archives
9. Motomami
   Rosalía
10. Painless
    Nilüfer Yanya
11. SOS
    SZA
12. Farm to Table
    Bartees Strange
13. The Forever Story
    JID
14. God Save the Animals
    Alex G
15. The Unraveling of PUPTheBand
    PUP
16. Hold the Girl
    Rina Sawayama
17. Few Good Things
    Saba
18. Muna
    Muna
19. Harry's House
    Harry Styles
20. I Love You Jennifer B
    Jockstrap
21. Supernova
    Nova Twins
22. Laurel Hell
    Mitski
23. Soul Sold Separately
    Freddie Gibbs
24. Dance Fever
    Florence + The Machine
25. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
    Kendrick Lamar
26. The Loneliest Time
    Carly Rae Jepsen
27. A Light for Attracting Attention
    The Smile
28. Midnights
    Taylor Swift
29. Squeeze
    SASAMI
30. Blue Rev
    Alvvays
31. Omens
    Lamb of God
32. Cheat Codes
    Danger Mouse and Black Thought
33. Pre Pleasure
    Julia Jacklin
34. Lucifer on the Sofa
    Spoon
35. Las Ruinas
    Rico Nasty
36. Entering Heaven Alive
    Jack White
37. And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow
    Weyes Blood
38. Maxident
    Stray Kids
39. Love, Damini
    Burna Boy
40. Pool Kids
    Pool Kids
41. ILYSM
    Wild Pink
42. Ants From Up There
    Black Country, New Road
43. Melt My Eyez See Your Future
    Denzel Curry
44. The Tipping Point
    Tears for Fears
45. Household Name
    Momma
46. Ghetto Gods
    EarthGang
47. We've Been Going About This All Wrong
    Sharon Van Etten
48. Unlimited Love
    Red Hot Chili Peppers
49. Boat Songs
    MJ Lenderman
50. Patient Number 9
    Ozzy Osbourne